Can Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure? Expert Insights

livewell
July 18, 2024
Eric kent

Dehydration

Dehydration is a condition, in which a body loses more water than intake, thus resulting in improper functioning. Water is an essential component for the proper functioning of the body, it has a role in the regulation of body temperature, removal of waste, and transporting nutrients to the cells. Dehydration can result in complications. Let’s discuss in detail “Can dehydration cause high blood pressure?

Causes

The most common cause of dehydration is drinking insufficient amounts of water. Other causes of dehydration are as follows:

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the common cause of dehydration. It results in excessive loss of water and electrolytes in a short period.

Vomiting

Vomiting can result in dehydration. If vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, the condition worsens.

Fever

Generally, high fever can cause dehydration.

Excessive Sweating

An individual’s body loses water, if he/she sweats. If an individual does vigorous activities and does not properly intake fluid, it can cause dehydration. Hot and humid weather conditions increase sweating.

Increase in Urination

Some medications can increase urination thus leading to dehydration.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of dehydration are mentioned below. Additionally, if an individual is suffering from any of these symptoms, it can be an alarm for dehydration.

Dry throat and mouth

Dehydration results in the drying of the mouth and throat. This causes difficulty in swallowing.

Dizziness

If a person is dehydrated, he/she might feel dizzy.

Darker Urine

Dehydration can cause urine to become darker. This condition indicates that a person’s body needs water.

A sensation of being Thirsty

It can be the initial symptom of dehydration.

Headache

One of the symptoms of dehydration is that it can cause severe or mild headaches.

Dry Skin

Another symptom of dehydration is skin dryness.

Weakness

Tiredness and weakness are the symptoms of dehydration.

Risk Factors

Dehydration can affect almost everyone, but certain individuals are at greater risk:

Infants and Young Children

Infants and young children are more vulnerable to dehydration as they are more prone to experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. They have a higher surface area than their volume, so they lose more fluid when suffering from high fever. Infants and young children can’t tell when thirsty, so they suffer from dehydration.

Old Adults

When a person ages, he/she stores less water. Additionally, their sense of thirst becomes less acute. This situation worsens with certain medical conditions like diabetes and consumption of certain medications.

Individuals with Chronic Illnesses

Chronic illnesses can cause dehydration. Kidney diseases increase the risk of dehydration.

Individuals involved in Physical Activities and Exercises

If an individual is engaged in excessive physical activities and exercises in hot and humid conditions, without sufficient water intake, it results in dehydration.

Complications

Dehydration can result in serious complications. These include:

Kidney Issues

If dehydration persists for a long period or the occurrence of dehydration is repetitive, it results in kidney issues like urinary tract infections.

Heat Injury

If the individual’s water consumption is inversely proportional to the number of physical activities and exercises, it can result in heat injury. Furthermore, the condition worsens and can lead to a life-threatening condition known as heatstroke.

Hemorrhagic Shock

This is the most serious and life-threatening complication of dehydration. Dehydration causes a drop in blood pressure and an oxygen amount.

Seizures

Sodium and potassium are electrolytes that help to carry electrical signals from one cell to another. In case of electrolyte imbalance, this messes up normal electrical signals and results in involuntary muscular contractions and in some cases, a person might become unconscious.

Diagnosis

The healthcare professional diagnoses dehydration based on a person’s signs and symptoms. The confirmation of dehydration is based on the results of some tests. These tests are:

Blood Test

The healthcare professional recommends a blood test to confirm whether the person is dehydrated. A blood test evaluates the level of electrolytes in a person’s body. Additionally, it tells whether their kidneys are working properly or not.

Urinalysis

Analysis of urine helps to diagnose dehydration. Moreover, it also helps determine whether the person has a bladder infection.

Treatment

The treatment depends on the individual’s signs and symptoms, age, and health condition. It is also dependent upon the severity of the condition.

Moderate and Severe Dehydration

A person might require intravenous fluid in case of moderate to severe dehydration. A severe case of dehydration requires medical attention immediately.

Mild Dehydration

In case of mild dehydration, a person should drink fluids. He/she needs to restore the water level and electrolyte levels. An individual needs to drink soda, water, fruit juices, etc.

High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the blood force applied against blood vessel walls. This force depends on two factors:

How wide or narrow are the blood vessels?
Secondly, how strong is the pumping of the heart?

The normal and ideal blood pressure range is 120/80 mm Hg. In the case of hypertension, there is a consistent increase in the blood pressure range. The range is higher than 140/90 mm Hg. Hypertension increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases like stroke, heart failure, etc.

Causes

Mostly in adults, there is no known cause of hypertension. This is referred to as “Primary Hypertension”. This develops gradually with time. The buildup of plaque in arteries increases the risk of hypertension. Furthermore, the cause of secondary hypertension is any underlying condition. Secondary hypertension occurs suddenly. Certain medical conditions and medications can cause secondary hypertension. This includes:

Thyroid issues.
Congenital heart defects.
Medications for cough, cold, birth control, etc.

Symptoms

Some symptoms associated with hypertension are as follows

Breathing Difficulty

Difficulty in breathing is one of the symptoms of hypertension. This condition occurs if hypertension affects an individual’s lungs or heart.

Flushing

Flushing can be a symptom of hypertension, particularly during or after physical activities and due to emotional stress.

Problems in Vision

One of the symptoms of high blood pressure is blurry vision or loss of vision. This problem arises if hypertension affects blood vessels in the eyes.

Fatigue

Severity can disturb brain functioning, thus resulting in fatigue.

Bleeding of Nose

Nose bleeding can be a symptom of hypertension. Although, it is common in severe cases.

Dizziness

In case of a sudden change in blood pressure, a person might feel dizzy. This is an indication of high blood pressure.

Hematuria

It is a condition in which there is blood in the urine. Hematuria can be a symptom of high blood pressure, particularly if it is affecting the person’s kidneys.

Risk Factors

Some risk factors of high blood pressure are:

Genetics

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Diet

Diet plays a crucial role in causing hypertension. Higher salt intake, low potassium levels, and excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to high blood pressure.

Lack of Physical Activities

Lack of physical activities results in weight gain and high blood pressure.

Obesity

An obese person is prone to hypertension as extra weight puts a workload on the heart, thus leading to high blood pressure.

Complications

High blood pressure exerts excessive pressure on the wall of arteries, thus damaging body organs and blood vessels. Moreover, uncontrolled high blood pressure causes greater damage. This leads to severe complications such as:

Heart Attack and Heart Failure

High blood pressure hardens and thickens the arteries, thus leading to heart stroke. Furthermore, hypertension makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood, which causes heart failure.

Kidney Issues

Hypertension causes narrowing and weakening of blood vessels in the kidneys. This can cause kidney damage.

Metabolic Disorder

One of the most common metabolic disorders due to high blood pressure is “Metabolic Syndrome”. This causes various conditions to occur together thus increasing the risk of heart stroke, diabetes, etc.

Aneurysm

High blood pressure results in weakening and bulging of blood vessels. It results in the formation of aneurysm. Moreover, in case of rupture of aneurysms, the condition can be life-threatening

Dementia

The narrowing and blockage of arteries limit blood flow to the brain, this leads to vascular dementia eventually. Furthermore, a heart stroke that causes an interruption in blood flow to the brain can also lead to vascular dementia.

Eye Issues

High blood pressure can cause loss of vision.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves several steps. These steps are as follows:

Measuring Blood Pressure and Confirmation of Diagnosis

A healthcare professional uses a sphygmomanometer to diagnose high blood pressure. The doctor confirms whether an individual has hypertension by taking multiple readings. Moreover, home monitoring is also recommended by a healthcare professional.

Medical History

The doctor will ask about the medical history of an individual. He/she will ask questions about lifestyle, family history, other medical conditions, etc.

Physical Examination

A healthcare professional will evaluate the physical condition of the person.

Treatment

A well-balanced and healthy lifestyle can treat hypertension. Moreover, there are certain medications to treat high blood pressure. Some examples are:

Calcium channel blockers

It causes the widening and relaxation of blood vessels.

Renin Inhibitor

This results in the inhibition of renin.

Diuretic

The diuretics help to remove excess salt.

Dehydration and High Blood Pressure

Dehydration affects an individual’s blood pressure. Can dehydration cause high blood pressure and low blood pressure?

Can Dehydration cause Low Blood Pressure?

In Low blood pressure, a person’s blood pressure falls lower than the 90/60 mm Hg range. Dehydration can result in hypotension due to a decrease in blood volume. The liquid amount circulating in blood vessels is called “Blood volume”. Maintenance of normal blood volume is essential for adequate blood transport to all body tissues. Dehydration results in lowering blood volume, thus causing hypotension.

Can Dehydration cause High Blood Pressure?

Yes, dehydration causes hypertension. Dehydration results in thickening of the blood and increasing its concentration. This causes the blood pressure to elevate because it is difficult for the heart to pump blood.

Furthermore, dehydration results in the release of hormones that constrict blood vessels. Thus, resulting in hypertension. If a person is already suffering from high blood pressure or is at high risk of blood pressure, dehydration worsens the condition.

Expert Insights for Can Dehydration Cause High Blood Pressure?

Some expert insights are:

According to Dr. John Batson, dehydration causes a decrease in blood volume. This makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood, thus leading to hypertension.
Another professor of medicine Dr. Lawrence Appel believes that dehydration causes an increase in the viscosity of blood thus increasing resistance. The high resistance can cause high blood pressure.
According to Dr. Suzanne Oparil, dehydration can decrease blood flow to the kidneys, which causes the release of renin. Moreover, renin activates the system of Renin-ngiotensin-aldosterone. RAAS activation results in the formation of angiotensin, that causes an increase in blood pressure.
Dr.Carmen Peralta conducted a study explaining that chronic dehydration impairs the functioning of kidneys. The kidney plays a crucial role in blood pressure maintenance, impaired kidneys can result in hypertension.

Hydration and Blood Pressure

Hydration plays an important role in the optimization of blood pressure. Drinking water adequately ensures the optimal blood volume and reduces heart workload. Adequate hydration ensures less viscosity of blood thus making it easy for the heart to pump blood. Moreover, hydration maintains the electrolyte balance, this electrolytic balance is important for blood pressure regulation. Proper hydration prevents excessive activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, thus properly regulating blood pressure. So, hydration is important for cardiovascular health.

Tips for Hydration

Some tips for keeping yourself hydrated are:

Drink water regularly.
Keep a water bottle with you all the time.
Use hydration applications to remind you of consuming water.
Adding foods with high water content to your diet.
Monitor for the signs of dehydration, so you can immediately treat yourself.
Drink water before and after physical activities and exercises.
Mindful consumption of water during extreme temperatures.

Prevention of Dehydration to Avoid Hypertension

Individuals can prevent dehydration by consuming enough water and foods with high water content. Water intake and blood pressure are interrelated. In case of the following conditions the water intake should be higher:

Diarrhea and Vomiting

If an individual is suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, extra water consumption is a preventive measure against dehydration. For infants, an oral rehydration solution is another option.

Extensive Physical Activities

Generally, it’s better to hydrate yourself before starting the physical activity. The clear and dilute urine indicates that a person is hydrated enough.

Hot or Cold Climate

A person should consume extra water in hot or humid weather conditions. During cold weather, it is important to intake enough water because dry air makes a person lose more moisture, particularly if he/she lives at a high altitude.

Illness

Minor illnesses like influenza, bladder infections, etc. can cause dehydration. If a person suffers from these conditions, he/she should drink extra fluids.

Chronic Conditions

Chronic stress can result in high blood pressure. Additionally, damaged kidneys, diabetes, etc. can also result in hypertension.

Medications

Certain medications can cause high blood pressure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dehydration and high blood pressure are correlated. Dehydration is a condition where the body has an inadequate amount of water, this causes improper functioning of the body. Excessive weather conditions, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, certain medical conditions, and medicines are the common causes of dehydration. The symptoms associated with dehydration are dizziness, headache, dry mouth, dry skin, dry throat, etc.

Can dehydration cause high blood pressure? The answer to this question is yes. Hypertension is when the person’s blood pressure range is consistently above 140/90 mm Hg. The causes of hypertension are medication, certain medical issues, quality of life, etc. Some common symptoms of high blood pressure are nosebleeds, fatigue, dizziness, blurry vision, etc. Hypertension can be caused by dehydration because dehydration causes the blood to thicken and makes the blood viscous, this makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood thus leading to high blood pressure.

Furthermore, dehydration results in releasing the certain hormones which causes high blood pressure. So, hydration is important for maintaining blood pressure and thus improving cardiovascular health.

At MedicareWell, we are dedicated to providing valuable insights and information through our comprehensive nutrition and wellness blogs. Our site offers expert advice, practical tips, and the latest research to help you make informed decisions about your health.

FAQ

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Are you looking for something? We are here to assist you. These are the questions
asked by our customers tell us yours.

What is dehydration?

Dehydration is a condition in which a body doesn’t have enough quantity of water to function properly.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the blood force applied against blood vessel walls. The normal or ideal blood pressure range is 120/80 mm Hg. In the case of hypertension, there is a consistent increase in the blood pressure range. The range is higher than 140/90 mm Hg.

Can dehydration cause high blood pressure?

Yes, dehydration can cause high blood pressure, because dehydration causes the blood to thicken and makes the blood viscous, this makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood thus leading to high blood pressure.

Why hydration is important for cardiovascular health?

Hydration plays a role in improving cardiovascular health by maintaining blood volume and regulating blood pressure, and hydration also ensures the proper functioning of the heart. Hydration is important in reducing the risk of certain heart diseases.

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

The symptoms of dehydration are dizziness, dry throat, dry mouth, dry skin, darker urine, etc.

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